Device for printing characters on moving packages



April 14, 1953 J. G. MOKAY 2,634,676

DEVICE FOR PRINTING CHARACTERS ON MOVING PACKAGES Original Filed Dec. 2, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

April 14; 1953 J. G. M KAY 2,634,676

DEVICE FOR PRINTING CHARACTERS ON MOVING PACKAGES I Original Filed Dec. 2, 1947 3 Sheejs-Sheet 2 April 14, 1953 McKAY 2,634,676

DEVICE FOR PRINTING CHARACTERS ON MOVING PACKAGES Original Filed Dec. 2, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. fizz/ea. G. WW

Patented Apr. 14, 1953 DEVICE FOR PRINTING CHARACTERS ON MOVING PACKAGES James G. McKay, Chicago, 111. Original application December 2, 1947, Serial No.

1951, Serial N0. 235,016

7 Claims.

This invention relates to the construction of a device for automatically applying numbers to a moving line of packages by printing same upon the packages. This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 789,239, filed December 2, 1947, now Patent No. 2,562,627.

In the sale of perishable or semi-perishable products such as cookies, cakes, candies, and the like, it is customary in many cases for the distributor to set'a limit to the age of the products sold by the retailer. The stale packages are taken back for credit in most cases. In addition, it is essential that the oldest stock be sold first. It is necessary in all such cases that each package be dated in some manner, but to place the date so that same can be read by the ultimate purchaser is undesirable since the fresh stock will be sold first while the older stock will be sold last, if at all. Dates are therefore placed upon the packages in the form of a code which uses a group of numbers. These numbers are meaningless to the purchaser but clearly identify the freshness of the package upon which they appear to the retailer and the distributor, thereby permitting proper arrangement of stock, etc.

Where the margin of profit is small and large volumes are relied upon to bring the necessary return, the dating of packages becomes a major problem. Handling a package is expensive, and hence a code dater must be such that it can be installed upon a conveyor of packages so that the speed with which the packages are produced by the plant is not impaired. Obviously this can be done with costly equipment and paraphernalia, but the most desirable method would have to be quite cheap. In addition, the code dater must be flexible in use so that it can be used almost anywhere. It is not intended that the code dater be changed from its position at a given plant once installed, but in order to evolve such a device which can be installed upon any assembly line or conveyor, each would have to be custom-made, thereby increasing the price to a large extent.

The primary object of my invention is to solve all of the problems set forth above and to provide a new and improved device which is simple in construction and operation, economical, and highly flexible.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which will include a revolving dating wheel carrying all the possible combinations of numbers which can be used and same being adjustable in a simple and expeditious manner.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved dating device in which same may be removably attached in a sturdy manner to any conveyor, wrapping machine, carton forming machine, or any other place where cartons, labels, boxes, or cases pass on a conveyor.

Divided and this application July 3,

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a dating device of the character described having a printing wheel which has a plurality oi adjustable printing units mounted thereon at intervals adjacent the periphery thereof in a novel and improved manner.

Many other objects of the invention lie in the various constructional details of the invention, such as in the manner in which the pressure of the print upon the boxes is controlled; the manner in which the dating wheel and the individual changeable date devices are constructed and arranged; and the manner in which the wheels are mounted and arranged.

With the foregoin and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds,'the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, arrangement and a combinationjof parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of this invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, this invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my printing device showing same attached to a conveyor carrying a line of cartons which are to be imprinted with code dates.

Fig. 2 is a similar view on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the printing device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line ll-4 of Fig. 6 in the direction indicated.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the entire device taken on a vertical plane along the'line 5-5 of Fig. 6 and in the indicated direction.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the device.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken through one of the individual dating devices to show the construction thereof.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a carton showing the manner in which the matter is printed thereon.

At the outset it should be understood that. although the device has been described as primarily for use in the code dating of perishable and semi-perishable food stufis, it is not so limited in its use. .Mynew-device can be used to apply any manner :of numbers, printing, symbols, dates, or insignia on any line of moving objects.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that one of the great advantages of my device is that it is capable of being made from standard or easily formed parts. The general elements ofthe .the platform i9 of the conveyor 28 while the anvil 1-1 engages the top thereof. The conveyor .20 includes abelt 2| which carries the packages P past the device. The bracket H has an upright portion 22 which is attached to the clamp body by-a anetalstrap 23 held in position by the nut .and bolt 24. Loosening the nut and bolt .24 permits rotation of the bracket II about the axis of .the upright 22,01' axial movement of said upright. Inthe preferred embodiment, the bracket .11 .is formed from shafting to permit thisrotation. There is a portion which actually serves as a shaft at the end of the up-right22 and bent at right angles thereto. This shaft portion .of the (bracket H isdesignated-ze. In installing the derviceupon the conveyor 20, it is essential that the .shaftportion 25 be spaced .above the surface that is -.to be imprinted, and that the axis of the shaft 2.5 be perpendicular to the line of motion of the .packages P. This will be brought out presently.

The frame -I 2 is rotatably mounted on the shaft .portion25. Said frame 12 consists of two identical .plate members 26 and 21 held in spaced relationship by a spacer rod 28, the ends of which arerespectively attached to the plate .members 26 and .21 .by appropriate nuts 29 and washers 30. vFor this purpose the ends of said spacer may be threaded as shown at 31 .and extend through appropriately positioned holes in said plates. Obviously anymeans of spacing the plates 23 and .2] one from the other will suffice. In the embodiment shown .the plates 26 and .27 are formed as substantially circular members having a portion removedalong a chord forming the straight edge 32 on each plate member.

Each of the plate members 25 and Zlhas openended slots 3.3.and 35 formed thereinatopposite .sides thereof, spaced from and parallel with the The upper slots33 accommostraight .edge 32. date the inking device I4, while the lower slots 34 accommodate the printing wheel I 3. The mountings for these devices are adjustable along the lengths of the slots 33 and 3d so that positions and pressures may be varied within the limit of the extent of said slots.

The printing wheel i3 is mounted in a manner similar to the inking wheel M. A shaft 5! which acts .as a spacer is attached between the plates 25 and 21 with its threaded ends 52 protruding through the slots 3 Nuts 53 are fastened upon the threaded ends 52 inside the plates 26 and 21, while the nuts 54 and washers 55 are fastened outside of said plates. A sleeve 56 having threaded ends .57 is mounted upon the shaftil for free rotation thereon. Said sleeve carries the wheel !3 by means of the nuts 58 and washers 59.

The wheel ['3 comprises a pair of discs 60 and 61 which carry numberers therebetween. Each of said .numberers is constructed identically and In the illustrations the screw 18 engages the bottom of leg portions 65 and 66. .mountedso that the frame 63 borders three sides hence the description .ofanyone will include the rest. Said.numberer .are indicatedgenerally at 62, and are mounted in a manner to be described. Each numberer includes a substantially U-shaped frame 63 as best shown in Fig. 7. Said frame comprises a base portion 6-3 and right and left Each numberer 62 is of a rectangular opening 61 provided therefor in each of the discs 66 and GI. There are provided "asim'any openings 67 as numberers 62 about the circumferenceof the discs and 6|, said rectangular openings 61 being spaced inwardly of the periphery of the discs and SI, and the U- shaped frames facing radially outwards of said wheel. The frames 63 have their thicknesses extending between the inner faces of the discs 60 and BI, and hence space same apart. The bolts .and nuts 68 clamp the frames 63 in position.

Across thefree ends of the leg portions 65 and .66 there extends .a bridge member 10 ofgenerally channel shaped cross section and having the channel ends abutting against the inside faces of the leg portions 65 and 66 for spacing sameapart.

' .Theends of the bridge member 78 .are provided with ears II and 12 which are adapted to engage within the slots 13 and it provided on said leg portions 65 and 6G and be bent over thereupon. The frame member .65 is thereby fixed as to its conformation. .A feature which is highly important to this invention is theformationof the bridge member 16 in arcuateform and of a curvature corresponding .to that of the discs 60 and BI. .The reasons for this shortly will be apparent.

The frame .55 is provided withagroup of.friction wheelsand printing strips, the construction of which is generally well known and used in commercially available numberers of this type. Thus, there is provideda shaft carried in the bearing openings .16 .and 17.. The end 78 of the shaft which engages the opening Tlis provided with a groove 19 .for engaging the edge of the opening .71 to permit disassembly in a manner wellknown. The shaft 75 carries friction wheels B0, 8.1, 82, and 83, each having the usual knurled .flange 84, 85, 56, and 81 respectively. A spacing washer is shown at 59. flexible printing tapes or bands 88, 89, 90, and 9,! arecarried by the respective wheels, each tape being endless and extending around the respective wheel and the bridge .70. The tapes all carry rubber printing numbers or letters in the usual manner as indicated at .92. The diameter of the knurled flanges 84 to 81 is greater than the width of the frame 65 and'hence the wheel flanges extend outside of the openings 61 so that samemaybemanipulated from outside of the Wheel [3 for changing the face of the characters 92 positioned upon the bridge 10 in the well known manner of operating suchnumberers.

A stated above, the general construction of the numberers '62 is well known, but attention is .now directed to a constructional detail thereof which is one of the features of the invention. The wheels 86 to 83 are mounted upon the shaft 15 for freerotation thereof when the knurled flanges 85 to 3? are moved. The distance from the shaft to the bridge 19 is substantially different at the ends of the shaft than at the center of the shaft by reason of the curvature of the bridge 70. In order that the tapes 83 to 9! all be under'substantially uniform tension, it is necessary to compensate for this variation of distance. The preferred expedient, and one which is highly economical is to provide the wheels 8! and 82 with .Said edges are milled as shown at bearings larger than those of wheels 80 and 83. Such bearings are openings 94 and 95 and they permit the wheels 8| and 82 to be rotated as-desired in the same manner as wheels 80 and 83, while the tapes 89 and 90 move eccentricall of the movement of tapes 8B and 9|, thereby compensating for the differences in distance above referred to.

By my construction, the necessity of providing special wheels, shafts or tapes is eliminated without loss of operating efficiency.

Having described the printing wheel I3, the manner of operation thereof should be pointed out. The characters 92 are adjusted to protrude from the edge of the wheel I3 a slight amount. 96 in order that same will frictionally engage and be moved by the moving line of packages P. Thus the pressure to which said characters P are subjected can be adjusted for optimum conditions of printing and wear. The wheel I4 is adjusted so that the free edge thereof is engaged by the characters 92 as same rotate past. Movement of the wheels I3 and I4 relative to one another is obtained by adjustment of the respective positions of said wheels in the slots 33 and 34.

The position of the frame I2 along the shaft is adjusted by means of a pair of collars 91 and 98 respectively bearing against the inner faces of the plate members 25 and 21. The collar 98 is a part of the pressure device I5 and the collar 91 is a part of the stop device I5. Each collar is capable of being fixed to the shaft 25 by the set screws 99 and I90. A spring IUI is coiled about the shaft 25 and has one end I92 thereof attached to the collar 98, and the opposite end I03 extending perpendicularly from the shaft 25 to slightly beyond the spacer rod 28 whereby said rod is engaged thereby. The spring IOI therefore serves to urge the frame I2 downwardly, or clockwise as viewed in Fig. 3, about the shaft 25, with the pressure controlled by the amount with which the collar 98 has shaft 25 prior to affixing same thereon. If desired additional openings (not shown) to accommodate the end I02 may be provided about the face of collar 98.

The downward movement above described is limited by a stop member I04 which is attached to the collar 91, and the free end of which extends beneath the spacer rod 28.

The manner of operation of the device is generally as follows: The characters 92 are adjusted in each of the numberers by manipulation of the appropriate wheels 89 to 83, and the stop member IE4 is adjusted so that the distance which the periphery of the wheel I3 is spaced above the conveyor belt is slightly less than the thickness of the packages P. The tension of the spring IEII is adjusted so that the packages will engage beneath the wheel I3 and lift same together with the frame I2, rotating said frame a slight amount about the shaft 25 without injuring the covering of said package. As the package P moves past the wheel l3, the milled edges engage the surface of the package causing the characters to be impressed against said package. While the wheel is rotating, ink from the inking wheel I4 is bein applied to the characters of the numberer 92 opposite to the one engaging the package.

The position of the impression relative to the package P can be adjusted by changing the position of the frame l2-along the shaft 25. In Fig. 8 the impression I96 is shown placed along an edge of the package P.

been rotated about the It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifest that while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a device of the character described, a printing wheel comprising a pair of discs havi g adjustable numberers positioned therebetween and circumferentially thereof with the printing edges of said numberers having their printing edges lying substantially upon the edge of said wheel and protruding slightly therebeyond whereby to print characters upon a surface against which said wheel is rolled, each numberer including a frame having a plurality of friction wheels and a bridge member at opposite edges thereof and having continuous bands of printing characters extending over respective wheels and the bridge whereby by rotating the wheels a line of different characters may be p0- sitioned upon said bridge member, said bridge being curved to enable the line of characters substantially to follow the curvature of said wheel, and said friction wheels having means whereby certain of the bands may be revolved eccentrically with respect to the other to compensate for the curvature of said bridge.

2. In a device of the character described, a printing wheel comprising a pair of discs having adjustable numberers positioned therebetween and circumferentially thereof with the printing edges of said numberers having their printing edges lying substantially upon the edge of said wheel and protruding slightly therebeyond whereby to print, characters upon a surface against which said wheel is rolled, each numberer including a frame having a plurality of friction wheels and a bridge member at opposite edges thereof and having continuous bands of printing characters extending over respective wheels and the bridge whereby by rotating the wheels a line of different characters may be positioned upon said bridge member, said bridge being curved to enable the line of characters substantially to follow the curvature of said wheel, and said friction wheels having means whereby certain of the bands may be revolved eccentrically with respect to the other to compensate for the curvature of said bridge, the friction wheels of each numberer being mounted on a single shaft and said means comprising providing larger bearing openings in the center wheels of said numberers.

3. In a device of the character described, a printing wheel comprising a pair of discs having adjustable numberers positioned therebetween and circumferentially thereof with the printing edges of said numberers having their printing edges lying substantially upon the edge of said wheel and protruding slightly therebeyond whereby to print characters upon a surface against which said wheel is rolled, each numberer including a frame having a plurality of friction wheels and a bridge member at opposite edges thereof and having continuous bands of printing characters extending over respective wheels and the bridge whereby by rotating the wheels a line of different characters may be positioned upon said bridge member, said bridge being Jag er-6 1 =;.cur.ved to :enable-the line of characters su-bstanrespect to the other to compensate forthe curvature of said bridge.

24. In a device .of the character described, a printing wheel comprising a pair of discs having adjustable numberers positioned therebetween and circumferentially thereof with the printing edges of said numberers having their printing edges lying substantially upon the edge of said wheel and protruding slightly 'therebeyond whereby to print characters upon a surface against which said wheel is rolled, each numberer including a frame having a plurality of friction wheels and a bridge member at opposite edges thereof and having continuous bands of printing characters extending over respective wheels and the bridge whereby by rotating the wheels a line .of different characters may be positioned upon said bridge member, said bridge being curved to enable the .line of characters substantially to :follow the curvature of said printing wheel, and said friction wheels .of each frame being independently rotatably mounted on the respective frame with the axes of rotation of the friction wheels arranged along a curved line substantially parallel with the bridge of the associated frame .to compensate for the curvature of the said :4:

bridge.

.5. In a device of the character described, a printing wheel comprising a pair of discs having adjustable numberers positioned therebetween and circumferentially thereof with the printing edges of said numberers having their printing "edges lying substantially upon the-edge of said wheel and protruding slightly therebeyon-d whereby to print characters upon a surface against-which said wheel is rolled, each numberer including a frame having a plurality of friction wheels and a bridge member at opposite edges thereof and having continuous bands of printing characters extending over respective wheels and the bridge whereby by rotatingthe wheelsaline of different characters may be positioned upon said bridge .member, said bridge beingcurved to enable the line of characters substantially .to .follow the curvature of said printing wheel, and

said friction wheels of each frame being inde- I pendently rotatably mounted on the respective frame with the axes .of rotation of the friction wheels arranged along a curvedline substantially parallel with the bridge of the associated .frame to compensate for the curvature of the said bridge, there being a single shaft extending between sides of each frame and having all of the friction wheels of thatframe journalled thereon.

6. In a device of .the character described, a

printing Wheel comprising a pair of discsadapt- ,ed .to be mountedfor free rotation, each disc having a plurality of rectangular openings spaced inwardly from the periphery of the discs, said openings being opposed when the discs are mounted, an adjustable numberer positioned between each pair of opposed openings between said discs and circumferentially thereof with the printing edges of said numberers havin their printing edges lying substantially upon the edge of said :wheel and protruding slightly therebeyond whereby to print characters upon a surface against which said wheel is rolled, each numberer including a frame having a plurality of friction wheels and a bridge .member at opposite edges .;thereof and havingcontinuous bands of print- .3 :ing characters extending .over respective wheels and the bridge, said friction wheels .each'having an annular fiangehavinga diameter greaterthan the thickness .of said frame extending through the pair of openings with which it is aligned and outside thereof whereby said flanges may .be

manipulated from outside-of the discs to rotate the friction wheels for positioning a line .of different characters upon the bridge .member, said .frame having .a base and a pair of upstanding,

spaced apart leg portions, said friction wheels being rotatably mounted between said legs with the bridge member opposite the base, said numberer being-mountedbetween said-discs with said framebordering three sides of the opposed openinjgs with which it is aligned, said frame z-serving to space said discs one from the other, said bridge being curved to enablea line of-characters substantially to follow the curvature of the-said discs, "each numberer having means whereby-certain of .the bands maybe revolved eccentrically with respect to the other to compensate for .the curvature of the bridge.

7. In a device of the character described, a printing wheelcomprising apair of discs adapted to be mount'edfor free rotation, each disc :having a plurality of rectangular openings spaced inwardly from the periphery of the discs, :said openings being opposed when the discs are mounted, an adjustable numberer positioned between each pair of opposed openings between said discs and circum'ferentially thereof with the printing edges of said 'numberers having their printing edges'lying substantially upon the edge of said wheel and protruding slightly therebeyond Whereby'to print characters upon a surface against which said wheel is rolled, each numing through the pair of openings with which it 'is' aligned and outside thereof whereby said flanges may be manipulated from outside "of the discs to rotate the friction-wheels for positioning a 'line of difierent characters upon the bridge member, said frame comprising a U-shaped member havin a pair ofispaced leg portions, sa'idfriction wheels being rotatably mounted between said legs, said bridge bein curved to enable aline of characters substantially to 'follow the curvature 'ofthe said discs, at least one'of said wheels belng eccentrically mounted with respect to'the others whereby its 'bandmay be revolved eccentrically with respect :to the others to compensate for the curvature of the bridge.

JAMES G. MCKAY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 778,957 Durham I Jan. 3, .1905 2,089,549 Grant Aug. 10, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 19,828 Norway Feb. 14, 1910 534,361

France Jan-4, 1922 

